Catlin Gabel School - On the Boards

On the boards 2/17/09 Daily Journal of Commerce - BY NATHALIE WEINSTEIN

Mahlum Architects and PLA Design Inc. A concept plan developed by Walsh Construction Co. and Mahlum Architects will create a new creative arts center at Catlin Gabel, an independent coeducational K-12 school on 54 acres in Southwest Portland.

Project manager Walsh Construction worked with Mahlum, representatives from Catlin Gabel and community members to develop the arts center, a $7.5 million, two-level, 20,000-square-foot building that will consolidate the school’s music and arts activities. Designed by Mahlum, the new facility includes spaces for painting and ceramics studios, media art classrooms, a gallery and a black box theater, which was designed in conjunction with theater consultant PLA Design Inc. The building will also provide a physical bridge between the middle and high schools. Made up of three blocks, the building will be oriented on an east-west axis to take advantage of northern light. The largest block contains the theater, which will open onto an outdoor amphitheater with broad steps that can be used for outdoor classes. Sloping roofs on the building will catch rainwater, which will be diverted to on-site bioswales.

Construction on the project is expected to begin this year and finish in 2010. Other project partners include structural engineer J.G. Pierson Inc., mechanical design/building consultant MEP Consultants, and landscape architect Greenworks PC.